Why You Shouldn't Quit Self-Tanner Cold Turkey

Learn how to wean yourself off of a faux summer glow in baby steps

Get friendly with the other types of self-tanner To avoid that mortifying moment when someone asks what happened to your weirdly fading skin, put away your deep-colored self-tanners and switch to gradual formulas. The self-tanners we use in the summer to give us fast color have a higher percentage of DHA, the tanning agent that reacts with amino acids in your skin (the surface, dead layer) and changes the color of your skin over the course of a few hours (Sunlaboratories Dark Sunsation Self Tanning Lotion, $49.95, is a reviewer favorite). A gradual tanner has a lower percentage of DHA and will take 4-5 consecutive daily applications to get the level of color that one application of self-tanner. Then there are temporary tanners -- the ones to wear on a night out when you want color immediately. These are DHA-free and if the product is high quality, it will last until you wash off with soap and water. As cold weather hits a gradual tanning lotion will give you more subtle color than a self tanner or temporary tanner and can be applied sporadically in the winter when you want a little boost of color. "Use once every few days initially, then widen the gaps between applications once winter is in full swing," says Evans.
(We like Supergoop! SPF 20 Gradual Self-Tanning Sunscreen Mousse , $38 or Jergens Natural Glow Daily Moisturizer , $8.69.)